CineImagine presents their tenth annual French Film Festival, June 1-3 at the Movie Mill and the Cité Des Prairies (2104, 6 Avenue South).
 For the first time the festival will take place in Lethbridge.
The festival was in Medicine Hat last year and in Fort Macleod before that.

“We had a lot of the community asking for it to be in Lethbridge and the entire board is from Lethbridge,” said Marie-Helene Lyle, Directrice générale, Société cInéMAGINE de l'Alberta.
“It is a festival to promote francophonie culture,” she said.

“ These are the best French films of the past year,” she added, noting there are a lot of films from Quebec, as expected, one from France, one from several different countries and even a French film from Ontario.

“ Our festival is also about increasing visibility and awareness of independent French film production,” she continued.

A panel of community members chose the 10 best French films from all over the world over the past few years to be screened at  both the Cite des la Prairies and the Movie Mill.

“We invited the community to an evening of screening movie trailers,” she said adding the board narrowed down 50 movies to a shortlist of 30 and asked the audience of about 35 people to choose their favourite 10.

“We wanted the community to be involved in an event we’re creating for the community,” she said.

 It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like, you can fit in and have a lot of  fun.
 That is the philosophy behind Lethbridge Musical Theatre’s production of 2003 Tony award winning  musical “Hairspray,” which takes the stage for 12 shows beginning Nov. 9 in the Yates Centre. Lethbridge Musical Theatre is looking for a large cast of 35 ranging from  age 14 and up.

 Auditions take place at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre this Wednesday and Thursday, May 30-31 beginning at 6 p.m.

A detailed character list can be found on their website http://www.lethbridgemusicaltheatre.ca/cast.php
 Those wishing to audition should dress for movement as a dance sequence will be taught. They should have a song prepared that is not from Hairspray, with sheet music in the proper key.  An accompanist will be provided if needed.

“ We like to say if life were everything it should be it would be more like Hairspray,” said Wayne Barry who has been part of the long standing Lethbridge musical theatre company 47 years ago.
The production, based on the hit Broadway show and 1988 film starring Sonny Bono among others and the 2007 John Travolta remake, is about a 1960s teen who wants to perform on the Corny Collins show, which is similar to American Bandstand and comes into conflict with the reigning teen queen when she wins and starts using her position to speak out about issues which concern her like  integrating blacks into the program.

“It  takes place in 1962 and Baltimore teen Tracey Turnblad has one desire — to be on the Corny Collins show. She’s transformed from social outcast to a superstar, but comes into conflict with thew reigning teen queen,” Barry said.
“ It’s a really fun and great musical,” he enthused.

“It’s multi-cultural so there’s a black and white cast in it,” he continued.
 
“We’ve already had so many people contacting us  about it,” he continued. Catwalk Salon is on board as the official salon, providing actual “Hairspray.”

He noted Lethbridge Musical theatre has a had a lot of success with shows set in the ’’60s and ’70s like “Grease” and hopes “Hairspray will help appeal to a  younger audience.

Lethbridge gets the Jitters courtesy of Hatrix Theatre this week.
 The relatively new community theatre group puts on their third spring production of the David French backstage comedy, ‘Jitters, ’May 23-26 at the Moose Hall.

 Jitters is about the toils and tribulations faced by a Toronto theatre company who are putting on a make it or break it play called “ The Care and Treatment of Roses.”

There is an eclectic collection of characters involved including Jessica, (played by Nancy Bridal) a diva who is making her return to the stage after a two year break, Patrick (played by Kelly Frewin), a volatile yet insecure renown Canadian actor, Phil (played by Jeff Graham), who is a hypochondriac and slightly neurotic  and enthusiastic young up and comer Tom (Marty Blank.) 

Director George (Ross Bruinsma) tears his hair out trying to keep the peace with these strong personalities and their problems while playwright Robert (Preston Scholz) wrings his hands and changes the dialogue.

Throw in a strong supporting cast including cranky stage manager Nicky (Marcie Stork,) and coquettish stage hands Peggy (Cass Pollock) and house manager Susi (Erin Ross) and you have an interesting clash of personalities, which is sure to result in waves of laughter from the audience as the pressure is amplified by a renown Broadway producer coming up from New York to see the show and bring it to Broadway.

The play features several familiar faces who have performed with several other Lethbridge theatre companies including the Drama Nutz and Playgoers of Lethbridge. It also features two Lethbridge drama teachers who play the leading roles.